WoundedKnee - Aug 6, 2009 9:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2009
Interesting day
Fun day out. Chicken out ridge wasn't really bad. To me the sketchiest part was the downclimb to the snowbridge.
SAR was called out while we were on the mountain. Another hiker made some very poor decisions and was benighted near the summit with just a t-shirt and jeans. Very disoriented the next morning.
96avs01 - Aug 3, 2009 12:20 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Great
dayhike, and Chicken Out Ridge definitely thins out the masses! Pretty straightforward class 3 sections...provided you leave early enough to avoid getting stuck behind some people that get sketched out.
Truly unreal lightning storms the night prior while camping at the trailhead, lightning was striking all around the camping area at a rate of about one flash per second, I'd never seen anything like it in my life, there was certainly a mild sense of panic amongst campers that evening!
Woke up early the next morning and hit the trail at 4:30, summited around 8:00 and back down just as the lightning restarted around 11:30. I noticed in the two days I spent at the trailhead lots of people up on the high ridges during the lightning storms... madness!
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Was snowed off this mountain sept 1st, 2008 at the 11.4K mark.
After living in Idaho for most of my life I've finally climbed Borah. It took us 13 hours due to some snow obstacles that made us exercise our route finding skills through some scary terrain. The views were of course astounding. The pain in my legs after the climb was also astounding. What a great mountain!
Solo via Chicken-Out Ridge, which didn't make me cluck or lay an egg. Nice views from the top...a good climb. I would say, however, that while Borah is higher, Leatherman Peak, a bit farther south, is much more formidable-looking, at least from the highway. Hope to get back there and try it some day.
First attempt - we couldn't find the exact route and had to turn back. The second attempt - we found the route, and had a stunning path to the top. Worth the return trip to this area.
junoiceclimber - Apr 13, 2009 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 1996
Borah's the Best
Lifelong Pocatello resident and climber, JEREMY ZACCARDI, passed away in my arms on MT. RAINIER from a lethal asthma attack on July 12, 1996. Three months later, 13 friends and family members carried his ashes to the top of BORAH PEAK, the mtn he summited over ten times in every condition imaginable, despite his own preexisting condition. Over the years, I have climbed on Borah's NORTH FACE, NE RIDGE, NW RIDGE, and SW RIDGE, but none were ever as good as summiting Borah's dog route in 1995 with JACQUELINE HARVEY BRADISH(McCall), KEVIN JOHNSON (Anchorage), and my old best friend. I miss him dearly as does his hometown community. By the way, my dog, CERRO, went to the summit in my backpack the day we spread Jerry’s ashes. Climb in peace, ya'll!! We, too, must descend.
sassyplatt - Jan 24, 2009 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 1999
Standard route
Climbed it again with the two daughters in 2003. Great mountain but a little hard on the knees.
montanachris - Dec 15, 2008 6:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Top of Idaho
An amazing hike, probably the only one I've done that I'd say was difficult. Worth every ounce of pain and boy, did it make that Borah Peak Brown Ale one of the best beers I've ever had!! (Not sure about the exact date, so I guessed)
byates - Dec 8, 2008 11:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
Up in 2:45
Up in 2hrs 45 min. chased down by Thunder storm in 2 hr 15 min. Rolled in early that Morn, summited at 8:45 but still not early enough.
My wife Meg and I went up. Snow squalls hit as we broke tree line. We held up for a while and they slowed. We started up and the flakes continued on and off---made for a slick crossing of chicken out ridge. Beautiful place. I really loved it--the descent from summit made Meg nervous. Very warm day once we were back at trailhead.
Eboz - Oct 27, 2008 1:35 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2008
Standard
I took a friend from out of town to hike Borah since the weather was forecast to be very nice over the next two or three days. The gorgeous weather was the best part about the hike and it was even warm at the summit this late in the year. We started at 8am as soon as we had sunlight and made it to the summit at about 1500. We took a lot of short breaks on the way up and spent even longer on the way down. Made it below the tree line before it got dark and then used our head lamps the rest of the way. No problems at all following the trail and there was only 6 to 12" of snow after chicken out ridge. There was a pretty eventful moment on our climb though, as my partner lost his glissade going across the snow bridge which is just below COR. He only slipped a few feet, but I could do nothing but watch and hope that he didn't accelerate down that slope any further. He was very calm and cool about it though, and got his ice axe out and picked his way back. The problem was that he tried to walk on the iced over snow without crampons and without kicking a footing. We both decided to continue, but think that a dynamic line and helmets would have been a good idea.
Cornvallis - Oct 24, 2008 3:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2008
Standard COR route
First and only big hike of the year. Climbed w/co-worker. Both of us had some black toe nails a few days later from the pounding they took coming down that steep trail. I'm getting old, I'm a fan of switchbacks. Perfect day for a climb. Warm on top w/no wind. Met a state high-pointer on the way up who had 43 HP's, he had to turn around about .5 from the summit. Bummer that must have been hard.
we arrived at the trailhead late night, crashed for a quick few hours, and got started early - the hitchhiker guy quit after 30 minutes - duff and cody made it as far as chicken out ridge - I warned him it would be the hardest hike of his life - I cruised up to the summit, enjoyed the views for awhile, and then zoomed down to the parking lot - the next day, I visited my favorite hot springs in the whole world for the third time - and then I drove and drove and drove and drove
we arrived at the trailhead late night, crashed for a quick few hours, and got started early - the hitchhiker guy quit after 30 minutes - duff and cody made it as far as chicken out ridge - I warned him it would be the hardest hike of his life - I cruised up to the summit, enjoyed the views for awhile, and then zoomed down to the parking lot - the next day, I visited my favorite hot springs in the whole world for the third time - and then I drove and drove and drove and drove
Rocker Paully - Oct 6, 2008 11:21 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2008
standard rt.
My buddy had never climbed it, so we shot up it on our way through Idaho. We had about 6" of snow and some icy spots on the fact to deal with, but it was fun.
captainbuuda - Sep 20, 2008 6:18 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2008
Wildhorse '08
The Wildhorse Trail Crew and I summited via the standard Chicken-out Ridge route. It was a fun experience for all.
Three hours up, one hour fourty min. down. Had to dodge through boy scouts and other crowds coming down...
A very nice climb with some easy 4th class and nice views and interesting all the way. I love how direct the trail is....have you ever climbed Humphrey's in Arizona?
WoundedKnee - Aug 6, 2009 9:50 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2009
Interesting dayFun day out. Chicken out ridge wasn't really bad. To me the sketchiest part was the downclimb to the snowbridge.
SAR was called out while we were on the mountain. Another hiker made some very poor decisions and was benighted near the summit with just a t-shirt and jeans. Very disoriented the next morning.
96avs01 - Aug 3, 2009 12:20 am Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2009
Greatdayhike, and Chicken Out Ridge definitely thins out the masses! Pretty straightforward class 3 sections...provided you leave early enough to avoid getting stuck behind some people that get sketched out.
calebEOC - Jul 27, 2009 4:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2009
Lightning!Truly unreal lightning storms the night prior while camping at the trailhead, lightning was striking all around the camping area at a rate of about one flash per second, I'd never seen anything like it in my life, there was certainly a mild sense of panic amongst campers that evening!
Woke up early the next morning and hit the trail at 4:30, summited around 8:00 and back down just as the lightning restarted around 11:30. I noticed in the two days I spent at the trailhead lots of people up on the high ridges during the lightning storms... madness!
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Was snowed off this mountain sept 1st, 2008 at the 11.4K mark.
mrchad9 - Jul 7, 2009 1:48 pm Date Climbed: Jul 25, 2008
BorahSketchy crossing the snow couloir so early in the morning w/o axe or crampons... were first on the summit this day. Perfect weather and a great hike.
mtybumpo - Jul 4, 2009 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2009
Finally!After living in Idaho for most of my life I've finally climbed Borah. It took us 13 hours due to some snow obstacles that made us exercise our route finding skills through some scary terrain. The views were of course astounding. The pain in my legs after the climb was also astounding. What a great mountain!
TheRootster - Jun 21, 2009 12:29 am
A Fun Day OutSolo via Chicken-Out Ridge, which didn't make me cluck or lay an egg. Nice views from the top...a good climb. I would say, however, that while Borah is higher, Leatherman Peak, a bit farther south, is much more formidable-looking, at least from the highway. Hope to get back there and try it some day.
ivyonup - May 4, 2009 10:53 am
Second attemptFirst attempt - we couldn't find the exact route and had to turn back. The second attempt - we found the route, and had a stunning path to the top. Worth the return trip to this area.
junoiceclimber - Apr 13, 2009 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 1996
Borah's the BestLifelong Pocatello resident and climber, JEREMY ZACCARDI, passed away in my arms on MT. RAINIER from a lethal asthma attack on July 12, 1996. Three months later, 13 friends and family members carried his ashes to the top of BORAH PEAK, the mtn he summited over ten times in every condition imaginable, despite his own preexisting condition. Over the years, I have climbed on Borah's NORTH FACE, NE RIDGE, NW RIDGE, and SW RIDGE, but none were ever as good as summiting Borah's dog route in 1995 with JACQUELINE HARVEY BRADISH(McCall), KEVIN JOHNSON (Anchorage), and my old best friend. I miss him dearly as does his hometown community. By the way, my dog, CERRO, went to the summit in my backpack the day we spread Jerry’s ashes. Climb in peace, ya'll!! We, too, must descend.
dervin - Feb 12, 2009 11:35 pm
Knee BreakerI climbed this with my father. A worthy hike.
sassyplatt - Jan 24, 2009 6:48 pm Date Climbed: Jun 24, 1999
Standard routeClimbed it again with the two daughters in 2003. Great mountain but a little hard on the knees.
montanachris - Dec 15, 2008 6:25 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Top of IdahoAn amazing hike, probably the only one I've done that I'd say was difficult. Worth every ounce of pain and boy, did it make that Borah Peak Brown Ale one of the best beers I've ever had!! (Not sure about the exact date, so I guessed)
byates - Dec 8, 2008 11:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 9, 2008
Up in 2:45Up in 2hrs 45 min. chased down by Thunder storm in 2 hr 15 min. Rolled in early that Morn, summited at 8:45 but still not early enough.
davidjhoopes - Nov 27, 2008 10:05 pm
Summer SnowMy wife Meg and I went up. Snow squalls hit as we broke tree line. We held up for a while and they slowed. We started up and the flakes continued on and off---made for a slick crossing of chicken out ridge. Beautiful place. I really loved it--the descent from summit made Meg nervous. Very warm day once we were back at trailhead.
Eboz - Oct 27, 2008 1:35 am Date Climbed: Oct 24, 2008
StandardI took a friend from out of town to hike Borah since the weather was forecast to be very nice over the next two or three days. The gorgeous weather was the best part about the hike and it was even warm at the summit this late in the year. We started at 8am as soon as we had sunlight and made it to the summit at about 1500. We took a lot of short breaks on the way up and spent even longer on the way down. Made it below the tree line before it got dark and then used our head lamps the rest of the way. No problems at all following the trail and there was only 6 to 12" of snow after chicken out ridge. There was a pretty eventful moment on our climb though, as my partner lost his glissade going across the snow bridge which is just below COR. He only slipped a few feet, but I could do nothing but watch and hope that he didn't accelerate down that slope any further. He was very calm and cool about it though, and got his ice axe out and picked his way back. The problem was that he tried to walk on the iced over snow without crampons and without kicking a footing. We both decided to continue, but think that a dynamic line and helmets would have been a good idea.
Cornvallis - Oct 24, 2008 3:14 pm Date Climbed: Sep 12, 2008
Standard COR routeFirst and only big hike of the year. Climbed w/co-worker. Both of us had some black toe nails a few days later from the pounding they took coming down that steep trail. I'm getting old, I'm a fan of switchbacks. Perfect day for a climb. Warm on top w/no wind. Met a state high-pointer on the way up who had 43 HP's, he had to turn around about .5 from the summit. Bummer that must have been hard.
paisajeroamericano - Oct 21, 2008 1:42 am
Duffwe arrived at the trailhead late night, crashed for a quick few hours, and got started early - the hitchhiker guy quit after 30 minutes - duff and cody made it as far as chicken out ridge - I warned him it would be the hardest hike of his life - I cruised up to the summit, enjoyed the views for awhile, and then zoomed down to the parking lot - the next day, I visited my favorite hot springs in the whole world for the third time - and then I drove and drove and drove and drove
paisajeroamericano - Oct 21, 2008 1:40 am
Duffwe arrived at the trailhead late night, crashed for a quick few hours, and got started early - the hitchhiker guy quit after 30 minutes - duff and cody made it as far as chicken out ridge - I warned him it would be the hardest hike of his life - I cruised up to the summit, enjoyed the views for awhile, and then zoomed down to the parking lot - the next day, I visited my favorite hot springs in the whole world for the third time - and then I drove and drove and drove and drove
Rocker Paully - Oct 6, 2008 11:21 am Date Climbed: Oct 5, 2008
standard rt.My buddy had never climbed it, so we shot up it on our way through Idaho. We had about 6" of snow and some icy spots on the fact to deal with, but it was fun.
captainbuuda - Sep 20, 2008 6:18 am Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2008
Wildhorse '08The Wildhorse Trail Crew and I summited via the standard Chicken-out Ridge route. It was a fun experience for all.
CBakwin - Sep 13, 2008 8:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 6, 2008
YoThree hours up, one hour fourty min. down. Had to dodge through boy scouts and other crowds coming down...
A very nice climb with some easy 4th class and nice views and interesting all the way. I love how direct the trail is....have you ever climbed Humphrey's in Arizona?